Computer Software

Software and its category

by Muhammad Yousuf Ali

Software is a set of computer programs and associated documentation and data. This is in contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work. This blog describe about the computer software and its category with respect to functions.

What is Software?

What are the category of computer software software?

What is Software?

Software is a set of computer programs and associated documentation and data. This is in contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work.

The software is considered as the language of the computer through the software computer execute different commands.  In simple words The software is a set of instructions, programs that are used to execute any particular task.

What are the main types of software?

There are four main types of software.

  1. Application Software
  2. System Software
  3. Programing Software
  4. Driver Software

1. Application software

Application software is the most common type of computer software, and can be defined as end-user programs that help end users to perform tasks or achieve a desired outcome. The end-user is the person who is actually using a product or program.

Example:-

Examples of application software include internet browsers, (Google Chrome, Safari, Fire Fox), Photo-editing software (Adobe Photoshop, CorelDraw and Canva and etc). Microsoft collection (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint)

2. System Software

System software is a program designed to run a computer’s hardware and applications and manage its resources, such as its memory, processors, and devices. It also provides a platform for running application software. In other words, System software is software designed to provide a platform for other software. System software is a software which helps the computer users, the computer or mobile device, and an application all work together seamlessly. This makes system software crucial to running any kind of application software as well as the whole computer system.

Example :-

Systems software Like operating system Windows, Linux, Unix, MacOS X. Each System software has its own set of unique characteristics.

3. Programming Software

Programming software is a program or set of programs which helps the software developers to develop new program. It helps software developer/programmers in designing, creating, debugging and maintaining other programs and applications.

Programming software has Compilers, assemblers, debuggers, interpreters for the developing and running of the coding.

Programming software is also referred as software development tools.

Example :

Python, C++, Java, .DotNet, Oracle, C# (C-Sharp) designed different level of programming.

4. Driver Software

Driver software is considered to be a type of system software. Driver software operates and controls devices that are plugged into a computer. These drivers make it possible for devices to perform their necessary functions.

Example :

Printer Driver, USB driver, DVD and Combo Drive Driver  

How to Cite this Article:-

M.Y. Ali (2023). Software types by its functionality.